Pump head



FIG/

H. J. PANKRATZ PUMP HEAD Filed May 6, 1941 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I4 J4 A INVENTOR HOWARD J. PANKRATZ Dec 29,1942. I J. PANKRATZ 1 5 0 5 9 PUMP HEAD Filed May 6. 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 50 4s s g I 48 47 7O 70 I4 5 I 5| 62 I 49 58 7' 61 63 5 62 so so 544 v as 45 :9 62 I 44 4 30 *j 3o 1 ll 32 IO s -INVENTOR HOWARD J. PANKRATZ F762 BY I HIATTORYNZ M Dec. 29, 1942. H. J. PANKRATZ 2,306,55

PUMP'HEAD Y I Filed May 6, 1941 s Shee t -Sheet 3 I F/G. v v v INVENTOR Y 77. I I 76 HOWARD J. PANKRATZ v I v 1 I I ATT RN YS Patented Dec. 29, 1942 UNITED PUlWP HEAD Howard J. Pankratz, Bartlesville, kla., assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a. corporation of Delaware Application May 6, 1941, Serial No. 392,155

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a driving mechanism for deep well pumps. More particularly the invention relates to a drive head which may be utilized to rotate or oscillate a string of tubing as required in gas lift devices of the type illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 2,202,970, issued to Steele on June 4, 1940.

In general the purpose of the present invention is to improve the device disclosed in the pending U. S. patent application, Serial No. 383,- 588, filed March 15, 1941, by Wilbur J. Crites.

An object of this invention is to provide a drive head in which the shaft carrying the full torque of rotation or oscillation also carries the total weight of the tubing string being rotated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism that will rotate or oscillate a string of tubing in a well, permitting fluid to be produced through the tubing string, and which will combine speed reducing means within the mechanism to allow the rate of rotation or oscillation to vary from that of the motor used as the power source.

A further object of applicants invention is to provide a drive head that can be less expensively constructed, more easily installed and maintained, and efficiently operated than the present devices of this type through use of fewer stuffing glands, shafts and couplings, and flanges.

These and other objects and advantages, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

An illustrative embodiment disclosing the improvements in a drive head mechanism made according to this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout, and. in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation view of the drive head structure showing it installed on a well head,

Figure 2 is a central vertical section through the drive head,

Figure 3 is a central vertical section of the upper portion of the drive head taken on the line. 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an elevation view partly in cross section representing a known form of gas lift pump disposed in a well bore and connected to. the drive head structure which is illustrated in detail in the other figures.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, applicant indicates the usejof ball bearings,

w m gea s. n mm. whee sin his preferred. 55

embodiment but it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to those specific means and others may be used for the same purposes, as will be seen by those skilled in the art. Applicant, for the sake of brevity, will hereinafter only refer to the rotation of the tubing string or drive shaft, it being understood that the term'rotation includes oscillating movement. The term rotation is also meant to include oscillation where used in defining the scope of the invention in the subjoined claims.

In general, Figure 1 shows a casing well head 9 at the earth's surface with an outer string of tubing i0 positioned within. This tubing is externally threaded at its upper end to receive lower flange piece I l which in turn is bolted to lower shell 12. At the upper end of this shell is a middle plate l3 carrying an upper shell M which in turn has a bracket l5 bolted to its exterior. Mounted on this bracket is an engine, preferably an electric motor I6 supplying the motive power for the driving mechanism in the head. Pulley I! on the motor drive shaft is belted to pulley l8 on the drive head shaft l9. Outer ring flange 2!! is bolted to the cover 4! of shell M and carries a bearing permitting shaft 2| to freely rotate. Attached to the upper end of this shaft is a swivel ell or fitting 22, union 23 and valve 24 to control the flowof fluid from the well. A gas inlet 25 with a control valve 26 is connected by union 21 to lower flange ll. Bull plug 28 completes the outer assembly of the drive head.

Figure 2 illustrates in detail the interior assembly of the drive head. Outer well tubing I0 is threaded externally at its upper end to engage threads in the central bore 29 of lower flange II. This flange is also bored and threaded as at 30 to form gas inlet passages communicating with bore 29 and to which a source of gas 25, shown in Figure 1, may be connected.

Positioned within bore 29 of flange H is a vertical drive shaft 2! connected by a coupling 3| to the inner well tubing string 32. 'A packing gland comprising a body 33, threaded at its lower end to engage the threads in bore 29 and at its upper end to receive a collar 34, packing within the body, and a follower 36 held by the collar completes the gland and packs off the rotating shaft 2|. A grease fitting 31 is provided so that lubrication may be supplied to the packing. In this way the annular space 13 between shaft 2| and the outer tubing string I0 is closed above the gas inlet passages 30 in flange I l to prevent gas from escaping up into the drive heada Hollow head screws 38 fasten the lower shell member l2 to the upper end of flange Windows or openings 39 may be provided in the shell to permit inspection and access to the packing gland.

Fastened at the upper end of this shell by the hollow head screws 40 is a circular plate member l3 having a central bore 4| extending through it which is of greater diameter than that of shaft 2| so that the shaft may freely rotate therein. A combined radial and thrust bearing 42 having annular shoulder 43 of shaft 2| seated thereon is mounted on the upper side of plate l3 and held in position by an outer ring flange 44 attached to the plate with hollow head screws 45.

Upper shell member I l, fastened to plate |3 with hollow head screws 46, has a cover 47 attached with hollow head screws 43. This cover has a central aperture 49 through which the upper end of shaft 2| extends. Combination thrust and radial bearing seating on the annular shoulder 5| of shaft 2| and in the recessed portion 52 of cover i! is firmly held in position by outer ring flange 53 which in turn is secured to cover 41 with screws 54.

It should be noted that this construction permits the vertical shaft 2| with the attached inner tubing string 32 to be suspended and supported by the combined radial and thrust bearings 42 and 53 so it is free to rotate, and is properly held in alignment.

Worm wheel 55 seating on the annular shoulder 56 is keyed or fastened by any other suitable means to shaft 2| and meshes with the worm gear 57 as shown in Figure 3. l/Vorm gear 51 is carried by shaft 58 which is mounted in the upper shell It and held at each end by a ball bearing 59, lock nut Bi! and outer ring flange 6| attached by screws 62 to the side of the shell. Also mounted on shaft 58 is worm wheel 63 which meshes with worm gear 34 carried on shaft l9, see Figures 2 and 3.

Shaft I9 is mounted within upper shell M at right angles to shaft 58 and is supported at each end by ball bearings 65, held by lock nuts 66 and outer ring flanges 51 and (i8 screwed as at M to the side of shell M. Outer ring flange 68 has a central aperture 69 through which the end of shaft I9 extends to engage pulley l8.

Motor it has bolts l3 holding it on bracket l5 which is fastened with the bolts H to the upper end of shell Hi. A belt 12 connects pulley H on the drive shaft of the motor with pulley 18 on shaft l9.

Figure 4 illustrates the above described apparatus operatively connected to a gas lift pump mechanism. For purposes of illustration only, the particular pump mechanism shown is that depicted in Figure 2 of the patent to Steele No. 2,202,970. The pump mechanism is disposed in the lower portion of a well bore l6 and includes a perforate bull plug TI that communicates with an accumulation chamber 18 by way of a flap type check valve 19. A nipple 80 having a check valve 8| positioned therein, projects into accumulation chamber 13 and communicates with tubing string 32 through a central passage 82 in a plug member 83 that is contained within a barrel 8 5. As will be evident from an inspection of this drawing and as is more fully set forth in said patent to Steele, the various ducts and po; ts in plug member 83 are made to periodically align with corresponding passages in barrel 84 upon rotation of tubing string 32 to thereby admit and exhaust gas in annular space 13 into and from chamber 18.

This drive head operates as follows: A source of high pressure gas 25 is connected to the gas inlet passages 30 in flange II. This gas passes down the annular space 13 between the inner tubing string 32 and the outer tubing string II] to a pump positioned at the bottom of a well. Motor l6 drives pulley I! which is belted to pulley |8 on shaft l9. As shaft l9 revolves it rotates worm gear 64 which in turn drives worm wheel 63 and rotates shaft 58. Worm gear 51 on shaft 58 engages worm wheel 55 which in turn is thus rotated. Since worm wheel 55 is keyed to vertical shaft 2|, which is rotatably mounted, the inner tubing string 32 being connected to this shaft is rotated. The rotating tubing string actuates the pump mechanism so that fluid from the well is forced up through the inner tubing string 32 and interior of shaft 2| to swivel joint 22 and into the discharg line 15.

It should be noted that assembly or removal of the head is easily and quickly done. After swivel 22 and the packing gland around shaft 2| are unscrewed, screws 38 in flange may be removed and the entire assembly lifted. Coupling 3| may then be broken and the head set aside, entirely assembled.

Whil applicant has described a specific embodiment of his invention, it is to be understood that the form herewith shown and described is a preferred example only and that various modifications may be made therein without materially departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a drive head for use with a deep well lifting device wherein rotatable inner tubing is spaced from stationary outer tubing to form an annular passage therewith, wherein pressure fluid is admitted into the passage for lifting well fluid through the inner tubing, and wherein rotation of the inner tubing controls the passage of the pressure fluid, the combination comprising a housing, bearing means in the housing, a tubular member aligned within the bearing means and rotatably supported thereon, the lower portion of the tubular member being adapted to be connected to and communicate with the upper portion of the inner tubing, the upper portion of the tubular member communicating with the exterior of the housing, a substantially sealed chamber within the housing, a gear train within the chamber and coupled to the tubular member,

said gear train being adapted to be connected to a source of motive power for imparting rotary motion to the tubular member, means for securing the housing to the upper end of the outer tubing, and an inlet passage in the housing for transmitting fluid into the annular passage.

2. In a drive head for use with a deep well lifting device wherein rotatable inner tubing is space-d from stationary outer tubing to form an annular passage therewith, wherein pressure fluid is admitted into the passage for lifting well fluid through the inner tubing, and wherein rotation of the inner tubing controls the passage of the pressure fluid, the combination comprising a housing, bearing means in the housing, a tubular member aligned within the bearing means and rotatably supported thereon, said tubular member being disposed substantially centrally in the housing and extending therethrough, the lower portion of the tubular member being adapted to be connected to and communicate with the upper portion of the inner tubing, a substantially sealed chamber Within the housing surrounding a portion of the tubular member, a gear train within the chamber and coupled to the tubular member, said gear trainbeing adapted to be connected to a source of motive power for imparting rotary motion to the tubular member, means for securing the housing to the upper end of the outer tubing, and an inlet passage in the housing for transmitting fluid into the annular passage.

3. In a drive head for use with a deep well lifting device wherein rotatable inner tubing is spaced from stationary outer tubing to form an annular passage therewith, wherein pressure fluid is admitted into the passage for lifting well fluid through the inner tubing, and wherein rotation of the inner tubing controls, the passage of the pressure fluid, the combination comprising a housing, bearing means in .the housing, a tubular member aligned within the bearing means and rotatably supported thereon, the lower portion of the tubular member being adapted to be connected to and communicate with the upper portion of the inner tubing, the'upper portion of the tubular member communicating with the exterior of the housing, a substantially sealed chamber within the housing, a gear train within the chamber and coupled to the tubular member, a shaft connected to the gear train and extending through the housing, rotary drive means secured to the housing and connected to the shaft for coacting with the gear train to impart rotary motion to the tubular member, means for attaching the housing tothe upper'end of the outer tubular member, and an inlet passage in the housing for transmitting fluid into the annular passage.

4. In a drive head for use with a deep well lifting device wherein rotatable inner tubing is spaced from stationary outer tubing to form an annular passage therewith, wherein pressure fluid is admitted into the passage for lifting well fluid through the inner tubing, and wherein rotation of the inner tubing controls the passage of the pressure fluid, the combination comprising a housing, including a base and a chamber spaced from and supported above the base, bearing means in the chamber, a tubular member aligned within the bearing means and rotatably supported thereon, said tubular member being disposed substantially centrally in the housing and extending therethrough, the lower end of the tubular member being adapted. to be connected toand communicate with'the upper end of the inner tubing, a gear train within the chamber and coupled to the tubular member, a shaft connected to the gear train and extending through the housing, a motor secured to the housing and connected to the shaft for coacting with the gear train to impart rotary motion to the tubular member, means for attaching the housing to the upper end of the outer tubular member, and an inlet passage in the base for transmitting fluid into the annular passage.

HOWARD J PANKRATZ. 

